Skin cancer signs vary widely in severity and type according to cancer type. Catching these signs as a part of early cancer detection can save your life. Skin cancer is caused by exposure to damaging UV rays from the sun. People who live in places that allow for high exposure are at increased risk. Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the US, with over 300 days of blue skies and sunshine each year. Those who live at higher elevations are also at risk because UV rays are more powerful at higher altitudes. Arizona’s average elevation is 4,100 feet which is in excess of the 2,500 ft average for the United States as a whole. Flagstaff, Arizona sits at 6,909 feet, and the highest point in all of Arizona is over 12,000 feet. At areas of lower elevation, Arizona is primarily desert with very warm winters and little shade to protect its denizens from the sun. Factors such as these are a big reason why skin cancer is such high risk for Arizona residents. Seeing the signs early is paramount to cancer survival.

As we age, our bodies change and mature in many ways. Along with these physical changes, our healthcare needs may change as well. Luckily, there are many tests out there that can help you decide how you can be the healthiest you! Around the age of 40, doctors usually advise their patients to get certain age specific exams done. Arrowhead Health Centers provides many of these tests on-site, and have the experienced professionals you need to guide you in your healthcare journey![Read more…]

It’s officially football season! Three days out of the week for the next thirteen weeks will be full of pigskins and nachos (five days if you watch high school and college).With school back in session, your kids will be getting involved in extracurricular activities (like football). We know that with great sports, come great injuries, and we want to keep your kids healthy! It’s not just football that is prone to injury. Without taking careful precaution, just about any sport can result in injury. Arrowhead Health Centers is here to provide some great ways to prevent sports injuries and keep your kids safe.

Knee Stability

One of the best things you can do to help build stability in your knee when you are suffering from OsteoArthritis is to focus on building strength in the muscles of the knee. OsteoArthritis is a condition that breaks down the cartilage in joints, including the knee. While there is no way to prevent this breakdown, there are ways to manage the symptoms and prolong any associated pain. This includes building the muscles in the knee. [Read more…]

One of the most important things you can do if you have been diagnosed with osteoarthritis is to continue to try and strengthen and build muscles to compensate for the breakdown of cartilage that is occurring in the joints. Osteoarthritis is most commonly seen in the weight bearing joints such as the spine, hips and knees. When cartilage breaks down in these joints it can lead to stiffness and pain. However, by working to keep the muscles surrounding the joint in good condition, it can help to alleviate some of this pain.

A foot ulcer can develop when the skin begins to breakdown and continues to extend deeper and deeper until it eventually reaches the muscle or bone. It often starts as a shallow red crater on the bottom of the foot of someone who has diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Those who do not experience chronic headaches on a regular basis will never truly understand the pain and suffering of those who do. Unlike getting the flu or catching a cold, headaches have very few if any outwardly visible symptoms, making it difficult to convey the intensity of the pain.

When the peripheral nerves in our hands, feet, arms and legs are damaged, they can send sensations or feelings of pain and discomfort to the brain via the spinal cord. This is known as Peripheral Neuropathy and affects millions of people across the United States.